Running gear for railway cars



Feb. 4, 1936. E. w. WEBB RUNNING GEAR FOR RAILWAY CARS Filed July 27, 1953 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 .Feb. 4, 1936. E, w. WEBB RUNNING GEAR FOR RAILWAY CARS Filed July 27, 1933 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 W W 1 r% liar s ZM w Feb. 4, 1936. w WEBB 2,029,749

RUNNING GEAR FOR RAILWAY CARS Filed July 27, 1933 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Feb. 4, 1936 PATENT FFlC'E' RUNNING GEAR Foa mmwaroms Edwin W. Webb, Chicago,

' and Car Truck Com ration of New Jersey mt usiznor to StamL ChicagoJlL, a com Application July 21, 1933, sci-a1 No. 682,383

4 Claims.

This invention relates to running gear for railway cars.

A recent development in railroad transportation has been the attachment of pedestals directly to the car body and the mounting of journal boxes within lateral openingsin these pedestals, which journal boxes receive the wheel axles. This pedestal type running gear construction has been tried out in connection with four wheel cars of comparatively short length, but considerable diniculty has been experienced with this type of car construction through failure of the wheels to hold to the rails.

It is one of the primary objects of this invention to provide means for permitting lateral motion of journal boxes relative to pedestals in cars having pedestals attached directly to the car body.

It is another primary object of the invention to 26 provide in the pedestal equipped cars of the type specified, stabilizing devices for snubbing the action of the springs to break up the natural harmonic action of the springs.

A further object is to provide a running gear for cars of the type specified including in combi-' nation both the lateral motion devices and the stabilizing devices.

To these ends, the invention consists in the novel parts and novel combinations of parts hereinafter defined in theclaims and described in the following specification, made in connection with the accompanying drawings,-wherein like reference characters refer to the same or similar parts throughout the several views, and, in which,

Fig. 1 is a view partly in side elevation and partly in vertical longitudinal section showing portions of the running gear of a railway car withinwhich the lateral motion devices and the stabilizing devices of the invention are incorporated;

Fig. 2 is a vertical section taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1, as indicated by the arrows;

Fig. 3 is a horizontal section taken on the line 3--3 of Fig. l, as indicated by the arrows;

Fig. 4 is a horizontal section taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1, as indicated by the arrows;

Fig. 5 is a detail partly in side elevation and partly in vertical section of the combination yoke and roller seat used in the construction shown in Figs. 1 to 4;

Fig. 6 is a vertical section taken through one of the wedges and a portion of the upper roller seat;

" Fig. 7 is a view in side elevation of a wedge cooperating with the wedge shown in 6;

Fig. 8 is a view partly in end elevation and partly in vertical section of the upper roller seat and wedge saddle;

Fig. 9 is a view in side elevation showing portions of a modified type of running gear of a rail- 5 way car within which the lateral motion devices of the invention are incorporated, but within which the stabilizing devices of the invention are not included; and

Fig. 10 is a vertical section taken on the line 10 Ill-l0 of Fig. 9, as indicated by the arrows.

Referring first to the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figs. 1 to 8 inclusive, inner and outer sills II and I2 of a car body are illustrated as is also a cross beam l3 which runs 15 across the car body platform. Secured to the outer sills II are pedestals It only one of which is illustrated. The outer sill Ii illustrated is 01' channel-shape and the pedestal I4 is provided with a vertical flange I! which is secured as by 20 rivets to the vertical flange oi the sill and the pedestal is also provided with a horizontal web is which underlies the lower horizontal flange 01' the sill and is riveted or otherwise secured thereto.

The pedestal is provided with alateral opening 1 I! and columns l8 defining-this opening. The

pedestal may be considered'to be divided into two legs connected together at their upper ends by the flange I5 and the web l6 and connected together "at their lower ends to. close the'opening I! by 30 means of a cross bar I 9. Removably secured as. by nutted bolts 20 to the outer side vofthe pedestal and overlying the lower portions of the columns is are removable wear plates 2| of channel-shape in horizontal cross section'as best shown in Fig. 4. 35 Disposed within the opening I 1 between the two wear plates 2| to permit of relative vertical movement between it and-the pedestal is a yoke 22 01' substantially inverted U-shape in front elevation. This yoke embraces the sides and top of a journal box 23, the journal box being provided with ribsto prevent lateral movement of the same relativeto the yoke. In this journal box, one end of a. wheel axle 24 equipped with wheels 25, is journaled. It will, of course, be 45 understood that the side 01' the car'opposite the particular pedestal I 4 illustrated, is equipped with a similar pedestal and that the opposite end of axle 24 from that shown is similarly journaled within another journal box mounted in the oppo- 50 site pedestal in the same manner as is the journal box 23 in the pedestal ll.

The yoke 22. in addition to being mounted .for vertical movement relative to the pedestal M, is also mounted for lateral movement relative 55 to the pedestal, this lateral movement of the yoke being limited by means of front and rear flanges 26 formed on the yoke. The'front and rear flanges 26 are spaced from each other considerably greater distances than the spacing between the front and rear portions of the wear plates 2|. The yoke 22, in addition to having sides which work against the wear plates 2|, forms at its upper part a lower roller bearing seat 21 within which roller bearings 28 partially fit. An upper roller bearing seat and wedge saddle 29 overlies the yoke 22 and forms an upper seat for the roller bearings 28. Heavy coiled compression springs 36 and 3| respectively, extend between the upper roller bearing seat 29 and a heavy central portion of the web Hi. The spring 3|] is heavier than the spring 3| and encircles the same. The outer spring 30 is centered by means of front and rear upturned flanges on the upper roller bearing seat 29 and by means of downturned front and rear flanges formed integral with the flange l6. The inner spring 3| is centered at its upper end by a central downward projection formed on the flange l6. A vertical pin 32 has a head at its upper end which fits within a recess 33 in the top part of the central portion of the flange |6 and this pin runs downwardly through an opening in the flange l6 and through a central opening in the upper roller bearing seat 29 and the lower end of the pin is received within a recess 34 formed in the lower roller bearing seat 21. The pin is prevented from turning by means of small lugs 35 upstanding in the recess 33, while a key 36 located below the upper roller bearing seat 29 is inserted through an opening in the pin and the pin, accordingly, causes the upper roller bearing seat 29 to be held in assembled relation relative to the pedestal for shipment and the like.

Removably attached to the columns l8 above the wear plates 2| and opposing the ends-of the upper roller bearing seat 29 are wear plates 31, against which wedges 38 bear. Cooperating with the wedges 38 are wedges 39 which are received partially within saddles 49. formed at the ends of the upper roller bearing seat and wedge saddles 29. The saddles 40, as best shown in Fig. 6 and Fig. 8, have upright curved surfaces 49a which bear against the inner sides of the wedges 39 and they have arcuately curved recesses 4% formed in their lower portions which receive curved lower portions of the wedges 39. The wedges 39 are equipped with side wings 39a between which the wedges 38 are received. Of course, the inclined surfaces of the wedges 38 and 39 of a pair are in abutment and the two wedges may slide relative to each other along these surfaces. The wedges 38 carry at their upper surfaces spring centering lugs 38a, which are encircled by the lower ends of coiled compression springs 4|. These springs 4| bear at their lower ends against the wedges 38 and bear at their upper ends against the web l6. The springs 4| are preferably of considerably lighter gauge than the springs 36 and 3|.

During travel of the car, it will be seen that lateral movement of the car body and pedestals l4 relative to the yokes 22, journal boxes 23, axle 24 and wheels can take place. There is thus little danger that the wheels 25 will jump the rails when the car is in service.

As the pedestals l4 move downwardly relative to the journal boxes, the springs 4| will be placed under increased tension to force the pairs of wedges 38 and 39 into tighter wedging relation.

These wedges reacting against the wear plates 31 and the upright surfaces 49a of the saddles 49 exert a damping action on the downward movement of the upper roller bearing seat 29 and, accordingly, they check the action of the springs and 3|. so as to break up the natural harmonic action of these springs. The springs 4| and wedges 39 and 40 stabilize the entire car and give it much better riding qualities. At the same time the stabilizing devices, as I chose to call them, continually increase the capacity of the main springs 30 and 3| as these springs'are placed under increased compression.

Referring now to the structure shown in Figs. 9 and 10, there is provided a very similar arrangement to that previously described with the exception that the stabilizing devices are not included in the structures shown in Figs. 9 and 10. A pedestal 42 of generally similar construction to the pedestal I4 is provided and this pedestal is equipped with a vertical flange 43 attached to the outer sill 44 of the car body, while it is also provided with a horizontal web 45 attached to the outer sill. The pedestal 42 is provided with a lateral opening 46, the sides of which are defined by columns 41. The pedestal divides into two legs from the web 45 and the lower ends of these legs are cross connected by a bar 48 which closes the lower end of the opening 46. Attached to the columns 41 are removable wear plates 49 of channel-shape in cross section and received between these two wear plates within the opening 46 is a yoke 59 of inverted U-shape in front elevation. The sides of this yoke bear against the wear plates 41 and, of course, the pedestal 42 may have vertical movement relative to the yoke. The pedestal also may have lateral movement relative to the yoke, this lateral movement being limited by means of front and rear flanges formed on the yoke. The yoke embraces a journal box 52 within which one end of a wheel axle 53 is journaled, this wheel axle being equipped with wheels 54. Lateral movement of the yoke relative to the journal box 52 is prevented by means of ribs formed on these parts. The upper part of the yoke 59 forms a lower roller bearing seat 55 receiving roller bearings 56. An upper roller bearing seat 51 overlies the rollers 56 and this upper seat is held from lateral movement relative to the pedestal 42 by means of lugs 51a. Coiled compression springs 58 are interposed between the upper roller bearing seat 51 and the central part of the web 45.

With the construction illustrated in Figs. 9 and 10, it will be seen that lateral movement of the pedestal 42 and the car body is permitted relative to the yoke 56, journal box 52, axle 53 and wheels 54.

It will, of course, be understood that various changes may be made in the form, details, arrangement and proportions of the various parts without departing from the scope of the present invention.

What is claimed is:-

1. A running gear for cars comprising pedestals attached directly to the car body, said pedestals having lateral openings therein, journal boxes mounted for both vertical and lateral movement within the openings of said pedestals, springs resiliently supporting said car body from said journal boxes, lateral motion devices associated with said springs and permitting lateral ward movement of said pedestals relative to said journal boxes.

2. A running gear for vehicles comprising pedestals attached directly to the vehicle body, said pedestals having lateral openings therein, journal box assemblies mounted for vertical movement within the openings of said pedestals, said assemblies each including members opposed to and vertically movable relative to parts of said pedestals, wedges disposed between said members and parts and movable with said assemblies, auxiliary springs placed under increased compression during downward movement of said pedestals relative to said journal box assemblies, said auxiliary springs acting against said wedges to drive them into tighter wedging relation with said members and parts during downward movement of said pedestals relative to said journal box assemblies, and load bearing springs interposed between said journal box assemblies and portions of the pedestals above the same, said load bearing springs being located in said lateral openings.

3. A running gear for cars comprising pedestals attached directly to the car body, said pedestals having lateral openings therein, journal box assemblies mounted for both vertical and lateral movement within the openings of said pedestals, lateral motion roller seats disposed above said journal box assemblies, said journal box assemblies including roller seats, lateral motion rollers interposed between said first mentioned and last mentioned seats, said first mentioned roller seats including members opposed to parts of said pedestals, wedges disposed between said members and parts and springs placed under increased compression during downward movement of said pedestals relative to said journal box assemblies, said springs acting against said wedges to drive them into tighter wedging relation with said members and parts to snub the downward movement of the pedestals.

4. A running gear for vehicles comprising pedestals attached directly to the vehicle body, said pedestals having lateral openings therein, journal box assemblies mounted for vertical movement within the openings of said pedestals, said assemblies each including members opposed to and movable vertically relative to parts of said pedestals, pairs of wedges interposed between said members and parts and movable with said assemblies, auxiliary springs interposed between portions of said side frames and certain of said wedges and other load bearing springs interposed between said journal box assemblies and upper portions of said pedestals.

' EDWIN W. WEBB. 

